Ten Tips to Keep the Holidays Happy for Your Pets

The holiday season brings many of us together for fun and festivity. Whether you are planning a gathering at your home or are invited to spend a few days with relatives or friends, you will need to consider the needs of your pets and any guests. Here are some things to think about:

1. If you cannot take your pet with you on the trip, arrange for boarding or a pet sitter well in advance so that you are sure that they will have someone to care for them
2. If you are planning to have houseguests, make sure that they know you have pets and that they do not have allergies or other concerns 
3. Make sure that your pet has somewhere safe and comfortable to ‘get away' from the hustle and bustle if it becomes overwhelming. Setting up a quiet refuge in advance is a great idea
4. Tell your guests what your ‘house rules' are for your pets - no feeding from the table, no pets on the furniture, etc. It is a good idea to give them reasons for these rules - for example , if your pet has a sensitive digestive tract table scraps will make them ill
5. When the guests arrive make sure any luggage or personal possessions are safely ‘stowed away' out of pet reach
6. If you put out snacks or appetizers, make sure they're out of reach of curious or hungry pets. It's a good idea to keep your pets out of the kitchen while preparations are underway - you don't want them to get underfoot and get burned or injured
7. If your guests bring gifts, especially chocolates, put them in a place that your pet can't get at them. Chocolate can be harmful to pets if they overindulge
8. If you're planning on decorating your home, try to use ‘pet friendly' festive plants, avoiding lilies if you have kittens or cats that like to nibble on plants. Poinsettias are fine, contrary to popular belief - the sap of poinsettia is mildly irritating and may cause some intestinal upset
9. After the gifts are opened, put any ribbons, bows or other decorations from the wrappers away so that your pet can't accidentally swallow them
10. If you have thrown food wrappers, table scraps, bones, or leftovers into the garbage, do not leave the bag anywhere that your pet can get into it

By observing a few commonsense guidelines, both you and your pets can have a safe and joyous celebration with family and friends. If you want more details about holiday hazards in the home contact our clinic and ask for the related handouts.

Caution: These news items, written by Lifelearn Inc., are licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written permission of Lifelearn Inc. Please note that the news information presented here is NOT a substitute for a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by our clinic veterinarian.